The Washington Coalition for Police Accountability (WCPA) seeks candidates to serve as its inaugural Executive Director. The Executive Director provides overall management, planning, execution, and leadership for the WCPA’s work to reduce police violence and increase police accountability throughout Washington State. Our strategies revolve around implementation of policies and outreach to the public, including education about the importance of changing police culture and addressing racial disparities, marginalization, and systems of oppression.
About this Opportunity:
The WCPA is an organization of experienced, dedicated, and hard-working humans who have come together to bring an end to needless harm at the hands of police. We are deeply committed to this work and collectively spend thousands of volunteer hours to achieve our goals. We work in a trauma-present space and have struggled through hard things together. Through these experiences we have built both working coalition practices and trust. We are ready for full-time leadership to maximize our impact, expand our footprint and reach, and much more.
The Executive Director will be the WCPA’s first full-time staff member and will help grow and shape its future. Although only two years old, the WCPA has already implemented a working model for success and seen precedent-setting new reforms passed. Our approach both learns from and honors the experiences of families who have lost loved ones through the actions of the police. We have secured funding for the first year of an Executive Director. We are almost through the process of becoming a 501c3. The Executive Director will initially have a staff of one part-time person to provide administrative support, but our hope and expectation is to build a larger team under the right leader, and we are actively working towards that goal.
About the WCPA:
WCPA members are families who have lost loved ones to police violence, as well as advocates, experts, and organizations, working together on state-wide policies to reduce police violence and increase accountability. Our policy formation centers the lived experiences of impacted persons, and family members who have lost loved ones to police violence have key policy-setting roles, with other coalition members supporting in various ways. Impacted families are the experts of their experience and their voices, presence, and insight transform and enrich policy development.
In addition to the lived experiences of families, the history of race and policing, and the effects of discriminatory as well as violent policing on Black Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, Pacific Islanders, Native Hawaiians, Asian Americans, Southeast Asians, and others, underlies all of WCPA’s work.
The Coalition membership and values grew out of advocacy for Initiative 940, which passed in 2018. WCPA formed in 2020 to address gaps from Initiative 940 and to broaden the scope of the work. The asphyxiation of George Floyd in Minneapolis and the asphyxiation and ensuing coverup of the death of Manuel Ellis in Tacoma were the tragic backdrop to this work in Washington State.
Key WCPA Successes to Date:
WCPA was instrumental in the enactment of landmark policing bills at the Washington state legislature in 2021:
• HB 1054 banned chokeholds and no-knock warrants, prohibited military equipment, adopted model policies on canine use, and restricted vehicular pursuits to violent offenses, sex offenses, and DUIs.
• HB 1267 established a state-wide office of independent investigation to provide an impartial investigation of officer involved shootings.
• HB 1310 addressed the day-to-day use of force by police officers by setting state-wide standards on when physical force can be used, with a requirement to de-escalate if possible and to use less lethal alternatives before using deadly force where appropriate.
• SB 5051 established a strong framework for officer certification to address suitability to serve as a peace officer and added community representation and expertise to the Criminal Justice Training Commission (CJTC), transforming the CJTC into a true oversight agency. Each of these bills, and SB 5259, which established a state-wide use of force data collection standard and HB 1089, which required audits of deadly force investigations by the State Auditor, require significant WCPA effort to ensure their intended implementation, and some face backlash and potential reversal. The WCPA has numerous committees and working groups to manage the implementation work, as well as advancing other legislative goals.
Role of the Executive Director:
The Executive Director serves as WCPA’s chief executive, with primary responsibility for managing the organization’s day-to-day activities and operations, leading the organization’s fund development efforts, and directing the work of staff, consultants, volunteers, and members, and collaborating with allies. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the Executive Director ensures that the organization is fiscally sound and that its internal and external communications, fund development, and programs meet the WCPA’s needs to achieve its goals.
The Executive Director will be a leader and manager who can ably balance internal management with external impact and visibility. The individual must be an excellent verbal communicator who is able to effectively work with diverse others to advance WCPA goals.
Areas of Responsibility:
Organizational & Strategic
• Work with WCPA board and members to establish a clear vision for WCPA goals and priorities.
• Collaborate with diverse partners to implement WCPA goals and priorities.
• Effectively and regularly communicate, engage, and partner with the Board to set strategic priorities and advance the organization’s financial and governance goals.
• Work closely with the Administrative Manager to ensure the day-to-day operations and financial management are sound and efficient.
People & Culture
• Build upon the WCPA’s established commitment to anti-racism to advance a collaborative, inclusive, and cohesive culture in which communication is clear and decision-making is transparent.
• Define and implement internal priorities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion, continuously monitoring impact and outcomes.
• Serve as an accessible, engaged, and non-defensive leader in support of an evolving organizational culture.
• Manage a broad range of contributors, consultants, and staff.
Fundraising, Communications, & Partnerships
• Serve as a persuasive and visible spokesperson for the WCPA, able to effectively communicate its sometimes-nuanced positions to various audiences.
• Ensure that WCPA is effectively represented in the media.
• Work with board and members to increase public awareness and broaden the WCPA’s reputation to strategic constituents.
• Work with board and members to cultivate existing and new donors/grants as well as identify and pursue new funding sources.
• Initiate and strengthen relationships and collaborations with organizations and leaders who share in WCPA’s mission and purpose.
Desired Qualifications
• Commitment to the mission and approach of the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability.
• Excellent people and culture leader with a track record in and commitment to creating inclusive, collaborative, and cohesive teams.
• Experience working in social justice-related matters with community members.
• Experience leading an organization or entity, ideally including general budget management, working for a board, and setting, translating, and rallying people around strategic priorities.
• Experience with the implementation of policies.
• Knowledge of the Washington State legislative process.
• Experience in partnership and coalition-building.
• Strong ability to serve as a public face for an organization.
• Direct or relevant experience in raising funds and cultivating and managing donor relationships.
• Excellent oral communication and presentation skills
• Ability to work some nights and weekends.
Equal Employment Opportunity
The WCPA is an equal opportunity employer. We value a diverse workforce and an inclusive culture. The WCPA encourages applications from all qualified individuals without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, marital status, citizenship, disability, veteran status and record of arrest or conviction, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Black people, Indigenous people, people of color; lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex people; women; people with disabilities, protected veterans, and formerly incarcerated individuals are all strongly encouraged to apply. The WCPA will make every effort to assure that its recruitment and employment provide all qualified persons, including persons with disabilities, with full opportunities for employment in all positions.
Working Conditions
Work is performed in a variety of settings among diverse stakeholders and audiences. A considerable amount of time will be spent in online meetings. The WCPA does not have a physical office so this is a remote working environment with some in-person meetings, events and legislative activities.
Salary and Benefits
This is a full-time, exempt position. The salary range is between $100,000 and $130,000 depending on experience and skills. Benefits include paid holidays, 20 additional days per year of paid time off and an allowance for health care expenses.
To Apply
All qualified candidates are invited to apply by submitting a resume and cover letter to: info@wcforpa.org
All applications will be acknowledged and reviewed as they are received. The priority deadline is January 3,
2023, and early submission is encouraged.